A Debtor by Flora E. Warren

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 12, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 49.

A Debtor

By Flora E. Warren

By Flora E. Warren

He walked the street on his homeward way, A man of sixty, with locks of gray; He carried himself with an air he prized, And thus to himself soliloquized: "They say that the Lord is very near, I'm glad, for I'll meet Him without fear. "I send my papers every week, That others may the true way seek; I read my Bible, and I pray, And go to church on Sabbath day. I've all my years in the good way spent, And I don't owe any man a cent."

He passed a neighbor on the way, A very poor man (so the neighbors say), And said to himself: "If that man knew How to plan and work, he'd have more to do. If I didn't work like the busy bee, I'd be in as bad a fix as he."

Another neighbor passed his way (A family of heathens, the neighbors say, They did not go to church at all, And lived in an unclean house, and small). No word gave he to the soul in need; To his neighbor's wants he gave no heed.

This traveler on his homeward way, Reached home at last, and I heard him say To his wife, as she hurried the table to set: "Take these bundles. Ain't dinner ready yet? You always have something else in view, And never do as you ought to do."

His angel left him with sorrowing face, His record to take to the throne of grace, And there in the book on the golden shelf Were written the words, "He lives for self;" And under his name (tho it may seem odd) Was written, "A debtor to man and God!"